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The global labour market is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by advances in artificial intelligence (AI), evolving societal expectations, and macroeconomic forces. While much of the public discourse on AI has centred around fears of automation and job loss, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 offers a more nuanced and forward-looking narrative—one that highlights the tremendous potential for job creation, workforce augmentation, and skills evolution.

“As we enter 2025, the landscape of work continues to evolve at a rapid pace,” writes Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. “Transformational breakthroughs, particularly in generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), are reshaping industries and tasks across all sectors”.

A Surge in Job Creation: The Upside of Transformation

According to the report, technological advancement is not only displacing jobs—it is also creating them at an unprecedented scale.

“Between 2025 and 2030, 170 million jobs are expected to be created,” driven primarily by technological progress, the green transition, and increased digital access.

In fact, the report outlines a net positive growth in employment, with 78 million more jobs being created than lost, as well as a projected displacement of 92 million roles.

New Roles Emerge Across the Economy

Some of the fastest-growing roles globally are deeply embedded in the AI and data economy. These include:

• AI and Machine Learning Specialists
• Big Data Analysts
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• FinTech Engineers
• Sustainability Specialists

“These roles are not just technical—they are essential for navigating a future shaped by digitalisation and climate change”.

Organisations are already proactively adapting to this new reality:

“Two-thirds of employers expect to hire AI-skilled talent,” reads the report, and “40% plan to create new roles linked to AI implementation and oversight”.

Green Transition

The green transition is also reshaping labour markets worldwide. Efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation are listed among the top drivers of job creation, prompting a rise in employment opportunities across sectors.

“Renewable energy engineers, environmental engineers and electric and autonomous vehicle specialists” are now ranked among the 15 fastest-growing job roles globally.

Human-Machine Synergy: The Future of Work is Collaborative

While generative AI often evokes concerns over automation, the report portrays it as a tool of empowerment—capable of extending the productivity of both technical and non-technical workers.

“Used effectively, GenAI can augment human work,” particularly in fields such as healthcare, education, and finance. “It lowers the barrier to entry for new users and enables complex capabilities to be accessed through natural language”.

“By 2030, 34% of workplace tasks are expected to be shared between humans and technology,” reads the report, establishing that the future will be defined by augmentation rather than replacement.

As employers increasingly turn to automation and AI for efficiency, the value of human-centred skills—like analytical thinking, resilience, and curiosity—is growing in parallel.

Skills, Not Jobs, Are at Risk

The real challenge, the report contends, is not the disappearance of jobs, but the disruption of skills.

“39% of core skills will be disrupted by 2030,” requiring workers to rapidly adapt or risk obsolescence.

Yet this skills volatility is paired with a growing appetite for training and upskilling:

“85% of employers plan to invest in upskilling their current workforce,” while “51% will transition staff into new roles instead of eliminating positions”. 

A Market in Motion, Not in Decline

Digitalisation and new technologies are reshaping the very concept of work. These seismic changes also prompt a rethinking of how and where work is done. —accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and enabled by digital infrastructure—are becoming a permanent fixture across many industries. Technology now underpins collaboration, performance monitoring, and productivity in ways that transcend traditional office environments.

The future of jobs is not a story of disappearance—it is a story of evolution, opportunity, and reinvention. As automation takes over routine tasks, human ingenuity is being redirected to more complex, creative, and impactful work. This shift demands not fear but preparation—through education, reskilling, and inclusive growth strategies.

In the words of the report itself:

“These transformations offer opportunities to improve livelihoods, reduce inequalities, and build more resilient and inclusive economies. But only if we act—together and now.”

Key Findings: Net Job Creation

• 170 million new jobs are expected to be created globally by 2030.
• 92 million jobs are projected to be displaced during the same period.
• This results in a net gain of 78 million jobs, equivalent to a 7% increase in total employment globally.